more on silence

we've got some snow

Jesus wasn't the only one who was a fan of silence.  The apostle Paul said this in I Thessalonians 4:11-12,

 "and make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you , so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

James, Jesus' half-brother, counseled in James 1:19 : "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

There are several verses in the Psalms about silence - probably the one that is best known is Psalm 46:10a: "Be still and know that I am God..."

My favorite one, and the one our pastor lovingly emailed to the resident fisherman to encourage him in his silence is Proverbs 10:19:  "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

My hubby quipped (via email) 'Sounds like a case for shorter sermons.'  

All in good fun of course, we love our pastor and really appreciate his messages.

Two days before hubby's surgery, we were singing along with the worship songs in church.  I looped my arm through his arm.  He really does have a wonderful voice and I realized then how much I was going to miss it.  

Moments later I headed back to children's church to teach the day's lesson.  It was on King Solomon and part of my teaching habit is to spend a bit of time reviewing.   I asked, " Who was the king of Israel before Solomon?"

I was shocked when a little girl in the front row raised her hand.   I have been teaching these kids for the past several years.  Children's church includes Kindergarten - 4th grade.  I have taught this particular little girl for at least 3 years.  She had never before raised her hand.

There is a reason for that.  Her mother shared with me that H. has  'selective mutism'.  She can speak, but doesn't in social settings.

Time paused for a moment as I prepared to hear her speak to me for the first time. 

Instead, she got out of her seat, came up to me and took the white board marker from my hand.  She went up to the board and wrote 'David' - the correct answer. 

She was beaming, I was beaming and, to be honest, close to choking up.  It was a precious, precious moment and I learned an important lesson.

You don't have to talk to communicate.

frugaling part 5

BE GOOD (or behave)

verses from the book of Proverbs on handling money

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;

Then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine.  3:9

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you have said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this my son, to free yourself since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands.  Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor.  Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.  Free yourself, like a gazelle, from the hand of the Hunter,Mike a bird from the snare of a fowler.  6:1-5

The wicked man earns deceptive wages but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.  11:18

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  11:24

A generous man will prosper;he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.  11:25

People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.  11:26

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.  13:11

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame but whoever heeds correction is honored.  13:18

Misfortune pursues the sinner but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.  13:21

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.  13:22

The righteous eat to their heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.  13:25

The poor are shunned even by their neighbor's, but the rich have many friends.  14:20

Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.  16:8

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.  17:1

A man of perverse heart does not prosper;  he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.  17:20

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.  19:17

Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man; but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.  20:17

A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.  21:6

If a man shuts he ears to the cry of the poor, he too, will cry out and not be answered.  21:13

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.  22:1

A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.  22:9

He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich – both come to poverty.  22:16

Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.  22:22

If your enemy is hungry give him food to eat;  if he is thirsty give him water to drink.  I doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head and the LORD will reward you.  25:21

Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.  28:6

He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another who will be kind to the poor.  28:8

A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.  28:16

A faithful man will be richly blessed but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.  28:20

A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.  28:22

He who robs his father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong” – he is partner to him who destroys.  28:24

A greedy man stirs up dissension but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

He who gives to the poor lacks nothing, but he who closes his eye to them receives many curses.  28:27

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.  29:7

Two things I ask of you O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “ Who is the LORD?”  Or I may become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my GOD.  30:7-9

frugaling part 4

BE DILIGENT

verses from the book of Proverbs about money

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gather its food at harvest.  6:6-8

How long will you lie there you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.  6:6-11

Lazy hands make a man poor but diligent hands bring wealth.  10:4

He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.  10:5

He who works his land will have abundant food but he who chases lacks judgment.  12:11

Diligent hands will rule but laziness ends in slave labor.  12:24

The sluggard craves and gets nothing but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.  13:4

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.  14:4

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.  14:23

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.  15:19

The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.  16:26

Laziness brings on deep sleep,and the shiftless man goes hungry.  19:15

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.  19:24

A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks, but finds nothing.  20:4

Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.  20:13

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.  21:5

He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.  21:17

The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, his hands refuse to work.  All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.  22:25-26

The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside” or “I will be murdered in the streets”.  22:13

Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor and drowsiness clothes them in rags.  24:33-34

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.  26:15

He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.  27:7

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your hearts:

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

The lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.  You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.  27:23-27

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.  28:19

frugaling part 3

BE WISE

verses from Proverbs about wisdom with money

My son, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.  3:1

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 3:13

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.  10:15

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than to pretend to be somebody and have no food.  12:9

One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing.  Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.  13:7

A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.  13:23

The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.  14:24

How much better to get wisdom than to get gold, to choose understanding rather than silver.  16:16

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool since he has no desire to get wisdom?  17:16

A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.  17:18

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.  18:11

Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him.  19:4

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.  19:14

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil but a foolish man devours all he has. 21:20

Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD

Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD  is the Maker of them all.  22:2

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.  22:7

Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.  22:26

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.  Cast but a glance at riches and they are gone, for they will sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.  23:4

If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit.  25:16

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s honor.  25:27

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.  29:3

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD  gives sight to the eyes of both.  29:13

frugaling part 2

Several years ago, I had the privilege of volunteering at a women's halfway house.  I had a few different roles, but one was helping teach some basic Bible study courses.  

The Bible is so practical. We knew these gals night face trouble transitioning back into their life outside of jail or the halfway house.  So it was decided that we would teach them what the Bible had to say about money.  As it turns out, the Bible has a lot to say about money.  In fact Jesus spoke more about money than about heaven and hell combined!

Being a fledgling organization we were long on ideas and passion and short on funds.  No money to buy curriculum, so I spent many a pleasant hour with a Bible and a notebook in front of me.  I stuck to the book of Proverbs.

I wrote down every verse in Proverbs that I felt had something to do with money, economy, wages.

After I had poured over Proverbs several times, I had 99 verses.

I then read the verses over and over asking God to show me a pattern or some way to categorize things.  God does things 'decently and orderly' and I had full confidence that the book of Proverbs would be no exception.

After a time of study and prayer, I could see the pattern.  The 99 verses I had written broke down into 3 categories.

They were:

BE WISE

BE DILIGENT

BE GOOD (or behave)

Over the next 3 posts I will share what I found.  Strictly the words of the Bible (NIV) without any commentary from me.

i hereby resolutely challenge myself to these goals

Is it just me or are we seemingly hardwired to set goals for ourselves as we turn the page of the calendar from one year to the next?

A fresh slate, a blank page,these call for new beginnings.

I love setting up challenges for myself.  Sometimes I fail. Sometimes I succeed

. I always learn something.

For many years I read the Bible through chronologically.

The past two years I used the Eat this Book plan.

For a little variety, I am returning to a plan I did for many years; many years ago.  I first found it in the Discipleship Journal magazine and through the wonders of the internet you can find the plan here

In addition to reading through the Bible in a year, there are many other challenges, resolutions, goals you can set for yourself.

For example, you could eliminate sugar from your diet.

Or processed foods.

Maybe your dressers and closets are threatening to overflow.

You could try this challenge

or, if you are feeling really brave/adventurous - this one.

Maybe you won't shop for a year, buy clothes for a year, stay out of the grocery store and raise your own food or shop farmer's markets for a week, a month or a year.

So many challenges.  Am I the only one who gets excited about attempting challenges?

Are you trying to do with or without anything for the new year?  

Do tell.

And then I will fess up to the challenges I am taking on in 2015.

88 days til Christmas

  

It might be 88 days until December 25, but we are having our family Christmas at Thanksgiving this year.  

Which means 49 days until Christmas.

Which means 49 days to make a stocking for the newest family member.

Which means I need to spend some time in the basement unpacking and unearthing my sewing supplies.

But first, a review of today's Bible study lesson.  John 1.

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."

Ancient, mysterious words full of meaning and truth.  It is a delight to ponder these words and discuss them with a group of beautiful, godly women.  We meet to study God's word each Thursday afternoon.  How I look forward to this time!

Staying grounded in these truths will help us not corrupt the true meaning of Christmas.  

And each stitch in this stocking will represent a prayer for this newest little grandson of ours who is expected to arrive after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.

The most wonderful time of the year!